“What will happen if you don't replace breast implants?”

Plastic surgeons want you to have an improved appearance which is the original reason for your surgery. Removing your implants will give you a deformity out of the surgeons control. Therefore, when I remove implants, I encourage them to still retain a normal appearance by possibly a breast lift, fat grafting if needs more volume, or change to a different type and size and may change from under skin to under muscle. I specifically need to know why she wants them removed. Is it rupture, contract, or rare implant illness with older gel implants and not the gummy type, or textured implants with problems. I have removed implants on many patients who simply are too large at that time if their life and removal with a lift and even lipoplasty of lateral breast and arm pit are give a very satisfactory result.

Contrary to common belief, breast implants don't need to be replaced unless there are problems with them such as deflation, capsular contracture or breakage. Good luck from New York City plastic surgery

The FDA recommends that you get your implants switched out every 10 years but this is not a requirement. The implants that are made now are very cohesive and they come with a lifetime warranty. Get examined by your doctor every 5-10 years but if you are happy with the size, shape, and feel, you can leave them in.

It depends on the size of the implants, but often women are pleased with the result.

Best,

Dennis P. Orgill, MD, PhD

There are some plastic surgeons who recommend to their patients that they routinely replace their breast implants every 10 or 15 years. I am not one of those. There is no study showing any benefit to this practice and I think it is more a way of establishing a revolving door of return patients for more surgery than anything else. I have removed saline and gel implants after 15 or more years that looked pretty much like the day they were put in. I feel there is no reason to disturb your implants if you are doing well, like the look and feel of your breasts, and have no other indications that there is a problem with them. I have always told my patients that they should have their breasts with implants checked periodically by a plastic surgeon. I recommend every other year as a reasonable, not too onerous, schedule. Few ever do. Even when I used to send out reminder cards to patients, they would not come back, so I stopped doing this. I have never charged a patient of mine for any visit to check her implants; it is a lifetime commitment I make to my patients so long as I am in practice. I am now seeing a few patients back after 15 or more years since their surgery. Most are doing well. 

Richard T. Bosshardt, MD, FACS